Friday 6 January 2017 07:28, UK
Everton's training ground is to be renamed USM Finch Farm after they signed a five-year partnership with the Russian holding company – founded and part-owned by Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov.
The deal starts this month and will also see USM Holdings benefit from a set of global marketing rights including branding on media interview backdrops and LED advertising at Goodison Park on matchdays.
The main shareholders of USM are Uzbek-born billionaire Usmanov, who is the second largest shareholder at Arsenal behind Stan Kroenke, Vladimir Skoch and Farhad Moshiri, who is Everton's new owner.
USM Holdings board member Ivan Streshinsky said: "The naming of Finch Farm, and the extensive package of marketing rights, provides USM and the businesses within our group with unique year-round global media exposure.
"We've done considerable research into what this partnership can deliver for us and we're very excited about the difference this will make as we continue to build our brands."
Everton chief executive Robert Elstone said: "We've invested heavily into our training facilities over recent years and this deal means we can continue to provide top-class facilities, which we know plays an important role in attracting the best playing talent, from academy right through to the first team."
Everton moved to Finch Farm in October 2007, having spent the preceding 41 years training at Bellefield, where the Brazil squad spent time practising during the 1966 World Cup.
